Given the fact that the developer that made Thief 3, Ion Storm, no longer exists and the main creator of the game, Warren Spector, no longer works for Eidos (who owns the rights to the series), I'd say the chances for another Thief game anytime soon are very slim.

There doesn't seem to be a lot of interest today in publishers making smaller games that aren't blockbusters, unfortunately. It seems like often a game's target audience are the people who care about gaming the least--casual gamers. I think it's a short sighted strategy that will end up hurting the industry in the long run.

Smaller games may make less money, but they also cost less to make so you can spread your risk out over a larger pool of titles. Plus it doesn't have to sell as much to make your company money.

Smaller games also encourage innovation since people are less willing to try new things if they know they are being counted on to make a big hit. High pressure and lots of money tend to make people act much more conservatively. But when you discourage innovation, you are less likely to have a successful game, which is kind of a catch-22.

Of course I'm not just talking about Eidos here. It's an industry wide issue.

theif is a lot like deus ex, also made by ion storm. it focus a little more on combat but also on stealth, and you hide the bodies, and have different factions and stuff. its cool cuz there's the templars, who are kinda like the hammers, then the illuminati, the keepers, and the biochemists, who are hated by the templars for messing with humanity's pureness, kinda like the pagans.

Here is the article on the new Thief and the new Deus Ex, although it is from last August so it's a bit old:
http://www.eurogamer.net/article.php?article_id=56449

I really don't like the fact that they want to modernize Thief. They say that the Medieval aspect has run its course, but I disagree. That is part of what makes Thief such a great game. If I wanted a modern Thief then I would just play Splinter Cell. I love Thief in part because of the timeframe that it is set in and all of the environments and ambience that comes with it.

i would hate it if thief 4 were a modern game... we have too many of those already, and most of them suck anyway. medieval works, i really enjoy it. if theres going to be another thief, i think there should be as much realism as possible... no more of these weird ass creatures, factions, and glyphs. i think garrett should be able to use any dark age weapon he wants, break into any home or establishment, steal real stuff like people or horses... horses so you can get around to other parts of town easier, and people so you can hold a ransom or whatever. and you should have to thwart assassins and mercenaries who are after you... gaurds should break into your home once in a while searching for you. and for crying out loud, give him a cloak at night, and a disguise during the day so you could take care of business around the clock. the point im trying to make i guess, is make him more like a real thief. but... i doubt there will even be another thief, and even if there is, it probably wont satisfy me enough.

I agree. It would be nice if the game was a little more open ended. Originally, before the game was released, the information that was being put out about the game said that the city would be a lot more accessible and explorable in between missions. Supposedly, you would be able to listen in on people's conversations in taverns and get information on new missions, it sounded really cool. But like many games, when release time comes, a lot of the original ideas and ambitions are ditched.

It would be really cool if the game had the same type of freedom that you have in a game like Grand Theft Auto. This would allow for a lot more fun and replayability.

If they modernize thief, they will have ruined a great series. Seriously, the whole reason thief worked so well is because you got to really step into the boots of the classic "D&D Dice Thief". The modern thief, well, it doesn't work. Seriously, they'll be turning this

Into this

Now shudder and realize the truth. The fact that we probably won't be seeing Thief 4, or at least not like we'd like to see it, is a direct result of the gaming industry becoming hollywoodized...

And I hate it...

On a side note, here is a list of some of my favorite games of all time, that I will NEVER see a sequal to because of the current state of the industry.

Also, for any of you wanting an open ended Thief like experience, look into Elder Scrolls 4. They have someone whom worked on the original series putting alot of work into the stealth system of that game.

I can't wait til Oblivion comes out. That was one of the main reasons that I was gonna get the XBox 360 at launch. Once I found out that Oblivion's release date got pushed back to next March, I decided to hold off on the 360.